Bush Tucker Garden

The Bush Tucker garden

The Bush Tucker garden features plants native to the greater Sydney area, some of which were used in traditional food and medicine by the Darug and other Indigenous people. The garden is located at the eastern end of campus between Wally's Walk and building E7B, near the thermal storage tower.

Many of the plants selected are native to the North Ryde area, but the garden also includes species from further afield, including northern NSW and Queensland. As a bush tucker garden many of the plants have strong connections with Indigenous cultural practices, either as food or medicine, although some species require extensive preparation to remove toxins.

We acknowledge the Darug people as the traditional custodians of the land the bush tucker garden is situated.

Carpark to garden

Late in 2010 the Office of Facilities Management (now known as Property) donated space formerly used as a carpark to Sustainability for conversion into a new garden for the Arboretum. A plan for the garden was developed by David Harrington and Alison Downing, with input from other staff and students from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Trees

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Use

Photo

Aniseed Myrtle

Backhousia anisata

Myrtaceae

Leaves can be used as flavouring herb for food and drink

Blueberry Ash

Elaeocarpus reticulatus

Elaeocarpaceae

Fruit are edible when ripe (soft at base)

Bolwarra, Native Guava,

Eupomatia laurina

Eupomatiaceae

Fruit eaten raw or dried. Fibrous bark used to make
fishing lines

Lemon Myrtle

Backhousia citriodora

Myrtaceae

Leaves can be used as flavouring herb for food and drink

Lemon-scented Tea-tree

Leptospermum petersonii

Myrtaceae

Leaves can be used as antiseptic and insect repellent

Lilly Pilly

Syzygium smithii (Acmena smithii)

Myrtaceae

Fruit can be eaten raw

Macadamia Nut

Macadamia integrifolia

Proteaceae

Kernel of nut eaten raw or roasted

Magenta Cherry, Daguba

Syzygium paniculatum

Myrtaceae

Fruit eaten raw or made into jam

Moreton Bay Chestnut, Blackbean

Castanospermum australe

Fabaceae - Faboideae

Toxic! Beans eaten after extensive water and fire
treatment

Plum Pine

Podocarpus elatus

Podocarpaceae

Fleshy stalk below hard fruit can be eaten raw
and cooked.

Sandpaper Fig

Ficus coronata

Moraceae

Fruit eaten when ripe. Sap from plant used in
medicine. Leaves used like sandpaper.

Sydney Golden Wattle

Acacia longifolia

Fabaceae - Mimosoideae

Tree used for gum, timber, wood and pollen and fibre.
Seeds are edible.

Shrubs

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Use

Photo

Cinnamon Myrtle

Backhousia myrtifolia

Myrtaceae

Leaves can be crushed and rubbed on skin as insect
repellent or dried and used to flavour tea and sweet dishes.

Finger Lime

Citrus australasica

Rutaceae

Fruit can used in salads and drinks

Midyim

Austromyrtus dulcis

Myrtaceae

Fruits edible when soft

Narrow-leaved Myrtle, Midyim

Austromyrtus tenuifolia

Myrtaceae

Fruits edible when soft

Native Raspberry

Rubus parvifolius

Rosaceae

Fruit are sweet and juicy

Herbs and Groundcovers

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Use

Photo

Blady Grass

Imperata cylindrica

Poaceae

Leaves used to make paper, thatch, weaving into mats
and bags. Also used for medicine.

Blue Flax Lily

Dianella congesta

Phormiaceae

Soft blue fruits edible

Burrawang

Macrozamia communis

Zamiaceae

Toxic! Seeds contain starch, but must be treated
extensively to destroy toxins.

Creeping Boobialla

Myoporum parvifolium

Myoporaceae

Fruits edible when soft. Leaves medicinal.

Native Ginger

Alpinia caerulea

Zingiberaceae

Young root tips edible. Pith under skin of fruit has a
lemony taste. Leaves used to protect food and provide shelter

Pennywort

Centella asiatica

Apiaceae

Medicinal herb for various ailments

Pigface

Carpobrotus glaucescens

Aizoaceae

Young leaves and fleshy red fruits can be eaten

Warrigal Greens, New Zealand Spinach

Tetragoniatetragonioides

Aizoaceae

Leaves can be eaten but should be blanched in boiling
water to leach out toxins.

Climbers

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Use

Photo

Southern Melodinus, Bellbird Vine

Melodinus australis

Apocynaceae

Fruit may be edible, but contains toxins

Water Vine, Native Grape

Cissus hypoglauca

Vitaceae

Edible fruits are blue when ripe. Stems can be cut to
provide water.

Zig-zag Vine

Melodorum leichhardtii

Apocynaceae

Fruits can be eaten raw. Plant is important food tree
for butterflies.